Shooting and Car Chase Involving ATF Agents and Palm Coast Suspects Ends in Wreck and Injuries on US1 at Hess Station

One of the vehicles involved in the shooting at U.S. 1 this morning. (c FlaglerLive)

Last Updated: 4:28 p.m.

The Hess Station on U.S. 1 in Korona–south of Palm Coast–this morning was the scene of a chase involving federal ATF agents that culminated in a wreck involving several vehicles and a shooting. Several gunshots were fired, though it’s not clear if the shots were fired at the beginning of the chase or at the end. Both suspects involved are from Palm Coast, and have prior records.

The chase had begun in Volusia County, where gunshots were reportedly fired at a motel, the Scottish Inn, at U.S. 1 and I-95 in Ormond Beach.

Leopold Saleem. Click on the image for larger view.

Kevin Richardson, a spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, said the bureau was involved in an undercover investigation this morning that “involved the exchange of firearms or narcotics, we don’t have the full details yet. But as a result, there are two suspects, the suspects attempted to flee, and we do know that one of the ATF vehicles was struck. It resulted in the shooting. We don’t have the particulars on it. Both individuals, both suspects were shot. They are stable.”

At around 4 p.m., the Florida Highway Patrol, responsible for investigating the crash portion of the incident, released the names of the two suspects. They are Radbourne Mark Anthony Saleem, 38, of and Leopold Michael Saleem, 27, both of Palm Coast. Leopold has been arrested three times previously in Flagler, but on minor charges: a contempt of court charge in 2008, and two possession of marijuana charges, under 20 grams. Radbourne was arrested once in the county, in 2011, on felony battery and domestic violence charges.

Radbourne had been driving the 2005 Toyota Matrix when it crashed. He was ejected. He is in critical condition. Leopold is in serious condition.

Richardson later specified that the deal involved drugs and machine guns–fake guns, as it turned out: when the suspects realized it was a ploy, they fled in a car and tried to run over ATF agents, who shot at the suspects. “No ATF personnel were hurt or injured. It is an ongoing shooting scene and investigation,” Richardson said. One suspect was shot four times, another once. Richardson said there are two investigative scenes–in Ormond Beach and in Flagler, on U.S. 1.

Radbourne Saleem. Click on the image for larger view.

The incident unfolded soon after 10 a.m. One person was transported by air to Halifax Hospital, another individual was transported by ground. There was a report of a third individual who was transported to Florida Hospital Flagler, but that report was unconfirmed: only two suspects were involved in the chase and the shooting.

Tom Winn, 64, was at the wheel of his green pick-up truck, traveling north on U.S. 1 when the incident unfolded in Flagler: “I’d seen the blue lights coming for two miles from the rear,” Winn said, “I tried to slow down and get off the road and they ran in the back of me. I was doing 60 and they were doing probably 80 or 90 and they hit me and knocked me across the road there.” Winn was referring to the car in which the two suspects being chased were traveling.

“They flipped, and that’s when the sheriffs caught up with them, after they rolled and hit me,” Winn said. “They just pulled guns on the bad guys and the rescue got here. They all went to that car. They didn’t check on me until about 15, 20 minutes.” He said he didn’t hear any gunshots. “Evidently there was some gunfire at the motel or wherever the ATF agents were.”

He said he could not describe the men in the car. “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said. “They just come up on me so fast. I tried to get off the road. They had plenty of room to get around me on the left side.”

Winn was injured–he had a cut above the eye, and had some swelling there, but he did not go to a local hospital. Two hours after the shooting, he was still at the scene, as investigators were examining his vehicle.

Flagler County Sherif’s officials and the Florida Highway Patrol are at the scene. U.S. 1 has been shut down in both directions at the level of the Hess station.

We are at the scene. More information and images will be provided as soon as available.

Tom Winn, who unwittingly stopped the suspects’ evasion when their car struck his. Click on the image for larger view. (c FlaglerLive)

Let me guess, they were carrying two smoke cartridges, a carton of Marlboro cigarettes , and a marijuana pipe ! They will be charged with interstate transportation of a carton of cigarettes, possession of dangerous controlled substance device, and explosive devices with terrorist intent…………

What a waste of helicopter time.
Bad guys win-we lose.
I’m so tired of this crap. I think we need to allow law enforcement personnel to shoot to kill these bastards who show zero respect for their own lives and endanger all of the rest of us on a daily basis! I’m TIRED of it!
I say that if a driver attempts to flee from an obvious police vehicle, that officer should have every right AND protection to do any and everything in their power to stop that jerk ASAP!!! Don.t make them CHASE the bastard! Let them STOP them!
There. I said it.

The people in this world are getting really crazy and they are allowing the DEVIL to use them really bad they all need to seek JESUS and stop letting the DEVIL use them and allow JESUS to use them for his GLORY. IN JESUS NAME.. AMEN

“involved the exchange of firearms or narcotics, we don’t have the full details yet”. Really?

Your Federal tax dollars at work. We will charge them with whatever we choose and make it stick.

What you think, $150,000, $350k just for the locals, doubvle that for the Feds. To bust a couple of low lifes selling squat. Meanwhile, we have to close the Libraries and cut the free lunch program to reduce the deficit.

Mark is our 5 yr old son’s barber has been since r son turned 1 wouldn’t trust no else. Sometimes we all go through something in r lives that no one understands this was his time.Do u all really know this man to judge him.The only judgement that matters is from the man upstairs. INSTEAD OF NEGATIVE COMMENTS THINK ABOUT FAMILY ESPECIALLY HIS MOM AND POPS SAY A PRAYER OR TWO FOR THEM HAVIN TO SEE THEIR SON LIKE THIS ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR.LETS REVERSE ROLES WHAT IF IT WAS UR SON, BROTHER, FATHER ETC WOULD WANNA READ NOTHIN BUT NEGATIVE COMMENTS ESPECIALLY FROM SOMEONE THAT REALLY DONT KNOW UR LOVED ONE I THINK NOT.

Ive been getting my haircut at Mark’s barber shop for a few years. Mark is a man, a father, and a son who has come a long path of trials and tribulations to get to the success he inherits today. He’s helped by family and friends around the community to help flourish his business as a barber. He does an outstanding job in terms of hair and facial trimming. Probably one of the few barbershops in North east Florida who specialize in New York style cuts. The typical american would think ” ya mean ghetto thug cuts.” Actually if you are an educated individual who believe knowledge is power, look it up, you might learn a thing or 2. The problem with our media today is they don’t view the bigger picture. No one is perfect in this world and surely the peoples post I’ve read in this news article is being hypocritical. Say what you want. I accept your opinions, however that doesn’t mean ill agree with you. A lot of americans have forgotten how america came to be the super power it is today and why everyone wants to do business with us. This isn’t an opinion what I’m about to share with you is a FACT and the veterans of WW2 will agree with me on this. The problem with americans today is they don’t take risks anymore because they’re afraid of the man in the uniform. Mark is an entrepreneur who i believe gives more money away then he receives. He is a successful individual and he took risks to get to the success he has today with the help of family and friends. He may have made a mistake with this situation, however Mark will hold himself accountable for his mistakes for whatever the result may be. It takes a man to deal what god has planned for you and an american to become successful in this country. Mark is one of them. If your an individual who has made mistakes and demoralize ppl because of the mistakes they’ve made, may god be with you because you are going to have a tough time finding who you really are.